During a recent lunchtime conversation, the topic of discussion ranged from a new type of desk chair for the office to fugitives running loose in the ‘burbs.
For a brief moment, everything was back to normal for DeanHouston Chicago.
As the DeanHouston Chicago office continues to work remotely due to the shelter-in-place order in Illinois, team members have found creative ways to keep the camaraderie alive. Small-group “lunch hangouts” is a recent example.
Like many other healthy work environments prior to the pandemic, members of DeanHouston Chicago would regularly go out for lunch together. The organization has adapted in so many other pivotal ways amid COVID-19, so why not lunch, too? And so “lunch hangouts” became a thing. Here’s what we’ve learned from our digital lunches:
- Informal get-togethers during office hours offer a chance for much-needed fellowship. If you subscribe to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs theory, then you probably know the pandemic — and the resulting isolation — have shaken up the actualization of some basic needs for many people, including safety and a sense of belonging. For some, the chance to visit with one another is simply a welcome distraction. But for others, it’s a self-affirming soundboard to discuss common experiences and to get practical advice for coping with challenges.
- The hangout lunches help maintain our office culture. Make no mistake, virtual lunches are an homage to normalcy. They’ll never replace the “real thing.” Nevertheless, they are an opportunity to reinforce our team-based culture and sense of workplace “community.”
- They provide a glimpse into the “real lives” of employees. Yeah, in simpler times, that would sound like a reality show gone wrong. But under the current circumstances, making a collective effort to have visibility over the physical and mental well-being of teammates is important.
- Small groups in small doses are the best bet. Limiting the groups to 4 or 5 people gives people a chance to talk without having to jockey for an opening like they would in a large group setting. DeanHouston Chicago changes up the invitation lists so the attendees get a chance to catch up with a different group of people during each lunch. Keeping the lunches to 30 minutes or so offers just enough time to chat without running the risk of “dead air.”
- Speaking of dead air: have an extrovert (and possibly a back-up extrovert in case of cancellations) invited to every lunch to keep the conversation moving. Like any good social mixer, you’ll also want to have a couple of conversation starters in your pocket. “What are YOU having for lunch?” will only carry you so far.
- Prepare yourself: it IS a little weird seeing yourself eat on-camera. But, on the flipside, none of your coworkers care if you have fish, Brussels sprouts, broccoli or some other malodorous meal. So, stink it up while you can!